If I may interject (on US image abroad)

[BelgianMadCow]

Bush*co:
1) black and white worldview - "with or against us", "old europe" etc
2) illegal preemptive invasion of Iraq (remember the millions in the US, Europe, worldwide)
3) disgusting rendition and torture policy
4) the current economic crisis : financial deregulation that threw away leverage boundaries and caused a hyperinflation of the derivative bubble. The anger about the crisis and the handling thereof by governments is aimed at "the bankers" and at US banks first (but definitely not alone). How the crisis is being used to axe workers and unions everywhere truly saddens me, as does the social security slashing that will come soon in Shock Doctrine style.

These things have primordially caused the world-wide esteem of the US to fall so low among ordinary people.
Obviously, the view of the US by business and political power brokers was and is a bit different: still one of the biggest consumer markets, and the sole military superpower. These carry weight with the leaders, much less so among ordinary people.
I would contend that the long-term prosperity of the US however depends on the "ordinary" view.

The scorecard as I see it, is not the point of this post. Neither do I want to detract from the posts about the improvement Barack Obama already is, or how much room for improvement there still is. I believe in both, bite me. I just wanted to remind all of you as you bicker about Obama's score card so far that the US constituents' view is not the only one that matters. Egocentric, no? ;-)

If the image of Abu-Ghraib isn't countered by something of equal magnitude as per 1) (on edit: 3 :silly:) and/or 2), there is very little chance you will ever regain moral standing or the chance to truly lead. Or national security for that matter.

regards
bmc

[FrenchieCat]

1. BO is the name of the President's dog. You will need to amend that.

[BelgianMadCow]

2. heh now you made me read the puppy news item (and amend)

and find out about Bo :D

thanks for the pointer!

[BeFree]

3. Ok

How about we put Bush and Cheney in jail? Would that help?

[BelgianMadCow]

4. after kicking their proverbial butts to the curb a couple times? Hell yeah.

Stop giving Cheney airtime though! Oh right, it's the corporate media.
Has he landed a nice gig yet or does he sleep through most of the day in his coffin?

[Zhade]

5. Frankly, we haven't deserved to lead the world for a long time.

I'm not at all interested in this country reasserting its brutal primacy. How about partnership with the world for a change, instead of just being the biggest bully?

[omega minimo]

6. "Bite me"? Thank you for the elegant, elevated European perspective

:eyes: :spray:

[BelgianMadCow]

8. Did you just bite me? I claimed neither elegance nor elevation

elegance: english is not my first language.
elevation: I'm unclear on what you mean really. I'm working class and I do know the history of colonial Europe. :shrug:

The rolleyes is a first on DU. :toast:

[omega minimo]

9. maybe you misspelt "believe me"..............

:eyes:

[stillcool]

7. I think this country will continue to..

feed on itself. I've read that empires decline from the outside in, but I think the United States will be an exception. I'm sure it will be one hell of a show!

[ixion]

10. oh yes, it's going to be a show all right

we've built up an empire a.k.a. paper house larger than any of our predecessors. I'm sure the implosion will be equally as impressive.


Something we've yet to learn, collectively speaking: There is always a bill. Always.

[stillcool]

11. Bill Clinton said something once..

that has stuck with me..in was something like you really should be nice to the people on your way up, because you will surely see them again on your way down. Guaranteed it's going to happen.